Keeping blocks organized

Originally Posted by showmehow

I have a small sewing room, no place to layout my blocks. I placed them on my bed to see how I wanted the pattern to go, as I picked them up i realized how easily I could mess the pattern up. Is there some method I could use to keep that from happening? Im a super new quilter.

The best way is to take a photo of it. I do this every time because I have gotten the layout mixed up so many times.emily

I too use a flannel backed tablecloth ... I put command hooks in my hallway wall and binder clips on the tablecloth to hang it while I'm working on the quilt. When I'm done or company coming I can take down the tablecloth. Picture of layout is always a good idea. I tend to sew a little slower ... I take a couple blocks from different area of the quilt sew, press and put back ... repeat. I know it's slower but I don't have to waste time trying to put it back like it was.

I lay blocks out on my bed and number the rows. I tear a bit of paper, put the row number on and attach w/a small safety pin. Then I sew the rows together. The numbers and pins stay until the top is done. As I age I must do things differently so I don't have to do so much ripping.

Another Phyllis
This life is the only one you get - enjoy it before you lose it.

I cover all bases (confusion is my middle name somedays). Lay out on bed, take photo, pin on numbers, make a "mud map" on a bit of paper. If your computer is near your machine, you can also load up the photo and bring it up on screen to use as a reference when you are working.

Great ideas. Right now I don't have a good place to layout my design. Going to get a table cloth. I've got one wall in my sewing room that if I removed some things, I could put up my "design wall". I can get things all mixed up while I'm sewing so there are some really neat ideas about numbering, etc. Thanks for all the suggestions.

There is a very fine line between hobby and mental illness. - Dave Barry

I cut up old calendars and use the #'s with a stick pin on the top of each row when I have it laid out. I then stack top to bottom. I put them in order and put in a baggie with the graph design of the top.

I KNEW there would come a day when all those old calendars would come in handy!!! woo hooooo!!

I pretty much do all of the above -- and I have a nice design wall, but normally I start something without finishing what I have going so I lay a sheet (preferabley flannel) or extra piece of batting on the bed, transfer the blocks and then fold it up (normally I mark the first block in a row -- lately I have been using those little "clothes pins" that have a red side and a white side and write a row number on the end). Since I have several UFOs going, I pin a label on the "package" telling me the pattern and where to find the pattern. I tie it with long selvage strips that I tear off of the strips I use for binding.

I cut up old calendars and use the #'s with a stick pin on the top of each row when I have it laid out. I then stack top to bottom. I put them in order and put in a baggie with the graph design of the top.

What a great idea. Who doesn't have old calendars laying around. I do because my mom thinks I might want the pictures. haha Now I know what to do with them.